H1 2026 was the critical build-up phase — dense conferences, national standards, tech breakthroughs, capital inflows, and capacity rollouts. H2 will shift into "race mode": multiple solid-state/semi-solid vehicles launch, and the competitive landscape for 2027 volume production will be largely locked in by year-end.

On July 1, Choco-Swap, a subsidiary of CATL, announced that a total of 2,000 battery swap stations had been launched nationwide in the first half of the year. The network covers 180 cities across 31 provincial-level regions, with its coverage rate in small and medium-sized cities exceeding 80%. Its highway battery swap network has also achieved breakthrough development, expanding from clustered core cities to county-level markets. The first batch of battery swap stations in Hong Kong has officially entered full operation.

On June 30, CATL and J&T Express signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will promote the large-scale deployment of new energy heavy-duty trucks, light logistics vehicles, electric warehouse forklifts, and other logistics equipment, and jointly build green industrial parks to help the logistics industry reduce costs, improve efficiency, and achieve low-carbon transformation. CATL will provide a full suite of battery-swapping batteries, swap station equipment, and operation and maintenance services for over 5,000 heavy-duty trucks under J&T Express. The battery-swapping model can "fully recharge" a heavy-duty truck within 3 to 5 minutes, significantly reducing refueling time. In terms of ground integrated complexes, CATL will provide J&T Express with a full range of energy storage system products and services.

According to the official WeChat account of CATL's Chocolate Battery Swap, as of June 30, a total of 2,000 battery swap stations have been built nationwide, covering 180 cities across 31 provinces, with coverage in small and medium-sized cities exceeding 80%. According to the plan, the total number of Chocolate Battery Swap stations nationwide is set to reach 3,000, covering over 190 cities, with an increased density of stations along expressway trunk routes.

CATL has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with J&T Express to accelerate the deployment of new energy logistics vehicles, including electric heavy-duty trucks, light-duty trucks and warehouse forklifts. Under the agreement, CATL will provide battery-swapping batteries, swapping stations and operation and maintenance services for more than 5,000 trucks operated by J&T Express.

On June 29, the China Automotive Battery Industry Innovation Alliance and the Zhongguancun Energy Storage Industry Technology Alliance jointly issued the "Initiative on Regulating Supplier Payment Terms for Power and Energy Storage Battery Enterprises." The initiative focuses on procurement transactions between power and energy storage battery and system integrator companies and their suppliers, offering specific recommendations on order confirmation and modification, delivery and acceptance, payment and settlement, and contract duration. On the same day, several companies including CATL, FinDreams Battery, Sunwoda Power, EVE Energy, and Hyperstrong sequentially announced their support. An official from the First Department of Equipment Industry of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) stated that this initiative is an important step in implementing the "Regulation on Ensuring Payment to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises." It specifies requirements for order confirmation and modification, delivery and acceptance, and payment and settlement. For example, it stipulates that the acceptance period for materials and components should generally not exceed 7 working days; the payment cycle for SME suppliers should generally begin on the date of delivery or acceptance; it recommends that all payments to SMEs be made in cash; and it encourages both supply and demand parties to establish stable cooperative relationships and to sign long‑term framework agreements based on their existing cooperation.